1934: John Dillinger aka Public Enemy #1
Let’s begin with the man whose crimes earned him the notorious title of “Public Enemy #1” by the FBI. John Dillinger was a gangster, bank robber, and a murderer. He escaped prison twice. The first time was after being arrested in Tuscon, Arizona, in January 1934 on charges of killing a police officer during a bank robbery the year before.
John Dillinger’s mugshots. Photo by Everett Collection / Shutterstock
He escaped from a jail in Ohio with the help of eight of his friends. After his capture, he was taken to Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana – a prison that was considered “escape-proof.” But Dillinger proved them wrong. In what is now a famous tale, the gangster managed to escape with a fake gun.